Mat Bar is a new restaurant on what is now one of the chicest streets in the center of Reykjavík. Knowing that Chef Gísli Matthías Auðunsson is also the owner of Slippurinn and the former owner of Matur og Drykkur tells you that at the very least this place is worth a visit. All of the dishes at Mat Bar are built on the idea of sharing for two or more and you write down your order on a piece of paper. There’s a 5-course menu with wine pairings, or you can choose to order à la carte from the selection of house tapas, vegetables, proteins and more. The place is rather small but smartly designed. The service is warm and professional. We start by sharing beef tartare on bruschetta with truffle mayo, and scallop ceviche with oranges and fresh coriander. Both are good. Next we try the glazed beets with smoked buttermilk flavoured with tangy liquorice, wow! Salt cod with smoked tomatoes and onion is a typical Spanish dish, and good enough, but the veal is even better, bolstered by baked fennel with chilli and grilled polenta with cheese. The dessert of white chocolate “skyr” is smooth though a bit underwhelming. Overall, we enjoy our visit to Mat Bar and look forward to coming again...

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Top 30 Nordic List

With over 100 Masters Level restaurants, the Nordic countries offer a wide variety of excellent culinary experiences. The Top 30 are all at the Global Masters level and they include some of the best restaurants in the world.